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Posted on Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.

Man released from prison and then arrested for robbery the next day

By Kyle Feldscher

An Ypsilanti man had been out of prison for less than a day before being arrested for stealing clothes and a punching a woman who tried to stop him, according to deputies.

Timothy Washington

Courtesy of WCSO

Timothy Washington, 47, is held in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $25,000 cash or surety bond for the May 23 incident at Value World, 1410 E. Michigan Ave. Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Geoffrey Fox said Washington went to the store because he needed to get some dry clothes.

“He went to the rear of the store and returned up front a couple minutes later,” Fox said. “When he did this, the cashier noticed he had on different clothes than he came in wearing.”

Fox said the woman approached Washington and confronted him about stealing clothes. Washington then approached the woman and punched her once in the face before running away from the area.

Deputies were dispatched to the store and ended up arresting Washington outside a nearby apartment complex, Fox said.

Washington was arraigned this week on charges of unarmed robbery, malicious destruction of fire and police property, second-degree retail fraud, and assault and battery, according to court records. Jail records show he’s being held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

The incident occurred a day after Washington was discharged from prison, according to state records. He served two and a half years in prison for unlawfully driving away an automobile and third-degree fleeing a police officer for an incident on Sept. 23, 2010, records show.

According to state records, Washington was sentenced to between a year and two months and five years in prison for both convictions.

Washington will return to court for a preliminary exam at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Comments

that's because our Holiday Inn prison system doesn't make criminals never want to return.

PineyWoodsGuy

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 11:59 p.m.

Yep! That guy Billy sure knows how to express himself in plain language!

Jaime Magiera

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.

I'm reading a couple comments here about people being &quot;born bad&quot;. No one is &quot;born bad&quot;. We learn and integrate behaviors from the environment around us. Some people develop mental health issues. Though it would be easy to just write people off as &quot;bad&quot; throw them in prison over and over again, the real test of a compassionate, caring and just society is finding ways to help people unlearn destructive behavior and integrate creative behavior. It also entails providing mental health care.

Elouise

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 5:39 p.m.

I agree. They are only born into bad situations.

mavfunn

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.

If you think no one is ever born bad, i.e. intrinsically destructive, you've never encountered a sociopath because that's exactly what they are, as they are born without conscience (brain scans of diagnosed sociopaths also indicate a damaged prefrontal cortex, so actual brain abnormality). They are also an exception to the rule as a relatively small proportion of the population, and I'm not saying this guy is one. There are systemic environmental issues that likely led to his choices, but you also insinuate that mental health is almost purely environmental and is unaffected by biology when that clearly is not true. And many are incapable or unwilling to receive help.

Bruce W

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.

He gave the lady a punch in the face but will probably get a slap on the wrist.

kay

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.

My heart goes out to the woman who was punched----she will always remember how traumatic this event was.

Basic Bob

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.

I thought cashiers were discouraged from confronting shoplifters.

justcary

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.

What I wouldn't give to see this persons MEAP scores and cumulative file. He obviously can not assess risk even after having done time. Some people conclude &quot;stupid&quot; but I predict learning disability. We have no support beyond 12th grade for such people.

John

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 9:48 p.m.

His permanent record should be disclosed! How much time did he spend in detention!?

Dog Guy

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.

Sounds like somebody is homesick for prison.

Ann English

Mon, Jun 3, 2013 : 2:11 a.m.

I've read of a criminal who didn't know how to live outside of prison, so after getting released from prison, he stole a car. Needless to say, he went back to jail for it.

Elouise

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.

There's and underlying problem here...
If he had nothing and no one to help, I can't blame him... Not condoning or anything but you do what you have to do. Unfortunately he's been institutionalized therefore that's all he knows. Hopefully he gets the help he needs.

Elouise

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 5:38 p.m.

@no flamers You are just showing your ignorance when it comes to the human being...
@grimmk He didn't beat the woman repeatedly, according to the story here. There's an instinct that all humans have called &quot;survival&quot; and if he felt like his freedom was in jeopardy, that obviously kicked in. Should he have hit the woman? No. Do I agree with him stealing? Absolutely not. This man was released from prison with no parole, no probation therefore no one to guide him in the direction needed to get help. And that's a fact... Look on OTIS.
People are so quick to chastise others without thinking from their point of view or knowing anything about their background. Instead of attacking them while hiding behind your keyboard, try reaching out!

Jaime Magiera

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.

Elouise, wise thoughts.

grimmk

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 7:24 a.m.

Stealing food for yourself if you are hungry, ok. Stealing, getting caught and then turning to violence like he did? No. No excuse.

no flamers!

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.

The underlying problem is that he was born bad and decided to get get worse.

shepard145

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:48 p.m.

The gift that keeps on giving.

shepard145

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.

That makes sense if he was a toddler with no mommy. The fact is that unless he pulls himself up, he may continue to commit crimes in order to return to prison where he is provided for by taxpayers indefinitely - hardly a punishment in his case.
The real damage was done decades ago when democrats seeking to guarantee themselves a voting block of a permanent under class, shattered the nuclear family in much of America and spent trillions in taxpayer gifts in exchange for their loyalty at the voting booth. Like this man, the rest is just noise and collateral damage.

Basic Bob

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.

It's hard to be impressed with a prison system that would release him with no place to go and only the clothes on his back. His quick return to jail was foreseeable, and quite possibly preventable.

obviouscomment

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:46 p.m.

That's sad considering it's likely the pants he stole were priced at about $6 and the shirt was maybe $3...

shepard145

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:51 p.m.

There's a lot more then that here that's sad. ...like a few generations.

obviouscomment

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.

I'm sorry, I meant he &quot;allegedly&quot; stole

Buzz

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:24 p.m.

To go to prison for UDAA means his rap sheet is longer than what is alluded to. Also, he served longer than the minimum time he was given...means he did not get along well with others in joint.

smokeblwr

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.

Some people are just born bad.

nickcarraweigh

Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.

On a positive note, it sounds like he's pretty much guaranteed dry clothes for some years to come.

grimmk

Sun, Jun 2, 2013 : 7:19 a.m.

Clearly he has never tried hand dryers. They work. Just take a long time.